Otti yearns for more local governments in Abia
*As Govt. acquires drilling rigs for provision of potable water in rural areas
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has indicated his desire to have more local governments carved of the existing 17 Local Government Areas (LGA).
The Governor has equally disclosed that his administration has acquired drilling rigs that would facilitate drilling of boreholes in rural communities to enable those communities to access good drinking water.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Citizen Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, said in a statement in Umuahia that Governor Otti revealed in Ikwuano at a civic function that he was already working towards achieving the creation of more Council Areas in the state for administrative convenience and better service delivery to the people.
Ukoha stated that the Governor was speaking at Awomukwu High School in Ikwuano LGA, during a civic reception organized by Awomukwu Think Tank Forum in honour of two of their illustrious sons, Dr. Monday Ubani, who was recently conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in the legal profession; and Chief Davidson S.C Alaribe, who, earlier this year, was inaugurated as the 60th (Diamond) President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
According to the CPS, Governor Otti, while responding to a request by the people of Ikwuano to fix the Ariam-Usaka road and other important roads in the LGA, reiterated his stands that once elections are over, governance sets in, hence, the need to work with all elected political leaders and parties to fix the State.
The statement quoted Governor Otti as saying: “Distinguish Senator Austin Akobundu had also whispered to me that Ariam-Usaka road made it into the proposed 2025 Federal Budget. I am going to work with him to ensure that if the money in the budget is not enough, we will put more money in the budget and get it done this year.
“Something else that he asked about, which is very critical, and I have it as a major project, is to see how we can restructure the State.
“When you look at some Local Governments, they are so big to even be two local governments. And, if you know the geographical structure of this State, you will know that Ikwuano is one of those local governments that should not be only one. I would also like to state immediately that that is not an attempt to divide you people; it’s just for administrative convenience. So, we are going to do everything possible to ensure that the right thing is done.”
The CPS added that Governor Otti further disclosed that part of his administration’s major project in 2025 would be to provide potable drinking water to Abians, which would be delivered through the direct-labour policy of his administration as was being done in road construction and maintenance in the State.
“I want to assure you that Ikwuano will benefit a great deal from our 2025 water project. It is, therefore, our decision to put pipe-borne water in the different communities in Abia State by direct-labour. To that extent, we have acquired a massive industrial drilling rig, which has arrived the State a few days ago and we will deploy them to all parts of the State. It can drill like 200 metres in an hour,” the Governor added.
Using the story of his humble beginning and that of the ICAN Diamond President, Chief Alaribe, the Governor encouraged the young people to work hard, believe in God, believe in themselves, and pursue their dreams, saying that they are the only ones who can stop themselves from achieving greatness.
The Governor congratulated the celebrants for their eminent achievements, saying that bigger achievements lie ahead of them.
The Governor congratulated the celebrants for their eminent achievements, saying that bigger achievements lie ahead of them.
The celebrants thanked Governor Otti profoundly for honouring them with his presence, not just at the Civic reception but also when the main events for which they are celebrated at home happened.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Senator Austine Akobundu, representing Abia Central Senatorial District, pedged collaboration with Governor Otti for the development of the State.
The Senator said that was in total agreement with the Governor, that Abians were not interested in the rhetoric of political parties but interested in the dividends of democracy.
He thanked Governor Otti for his leadership and for reaching out and meeting with those of them at the National Assembly for the overall development of the State.
